In the Maze of Data Languages

In data languages the positions of strings and trees carry a label from a finite alphabet and a data value from an infinite alphabet. Extensions of automata and logics over finite alphabets have been defined to recognize data languages, both in the string and tree cases. In this paper we describe and compare the complexity and expressiveness of such models to understand which ones are better candidates as regular models

Equivalence Problems for Tree Transducers: A Brief Survey

The decidability of equivalence for three important classes of tree transducers is discussed. Each class can be obtained as a natural restriction of deterministic macro tree transducers (MTTs): (1) no context parameters, i.e., top-down tree transducers, (2) linear size increase, i.e., MSO definable tree transducers, and (3) monadic input and output ranked alphabets. For the full class of MTTs, decidability of equivalence remains a long-standing open problem.Comment: In Proceedings AFL 2014, arXiv:1405.527

Regular and First Order List Functions

We define two classes of functions, called regular (respectively, first-order) list functions, which manipulate objects such as lists, lists of lists, pairs of lists, lists of pairs of lists, etc. The definition is in the style of regular expressions: the functions are constructed by starting with some basic functions (e.g. projections from pairs, or head and tail operations on lists) and putting them together using four combinators (most importantly, composition of functions). Our main results are that first-order list functions are exactly the same as first-order transductions, under a suitable encoding of the inputs; and the regular list functions are exactly the same as MSO-transductions

Recurrent Reachability Analysis in Regular Model Checking

Abstract. We consider the problem of recurrent reachability over infinite systems given by regular relations on words and trees, i.e, whether a given regular set of states can be reached infinitely often from a given initial state in the given transition system. Under the condition that the transitive closure of the transition relation is regular, we show that the problem is decidable, and the set of all initial states satisfying the property is regular. Moreover, our algorithm constructs an automaton for this set in polynomial time, assuming that a transducer of the transitive closure can be computed in poly-time. We then demonstrate that transition systems generated by pushdown systems, regular ground tree rewrite systems, and the well-known process algebra PA satisfy our condition and transducers for their transitive closures can be computed in poly-time. Our result also implies that model checking EF-logic extended by recurrent reachability predicate (EGF) over such systems is decidable.